National

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wearing his practice shorts and a sweatshirt, Kobe Bryant looked as if he was ready to return action.
After the Los Angeles Lakers signed the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history to a two-year contract extension, Bryant said he can’t wait to play.
“The Lakers came up with the structure — a system and a plan they thought was a win-win for everybody involved. From my perspective, it was very easy to accept it,” Bryant said.
In what he says will probably be his final contract, Bryant says there was no negotiation.
Bryant’s new deal is reportedly worth $48.5 million, and it takes him into his 20th season with the Lakers.
He hasn’t played this season while recovering from surgery in April on a torn Achilles tendon. He won’t play on this three-game road trip, but he’s looking forward to three practices in the four days off that precede Los Angeles’ game in Sacramento on Dec. 6 as a possible return.
“Those three days when we get back are going to be huge,” Bryant said. “I need some more practices to measure it and test it.”

The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Nov. 23, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:

MACAU (AP) — Manny Pacquiao reversed the decline in his boxing career and provided some desperately needed inspiration to the disaster-stricken Philippines with an authoritative victory over Brandon Rios on Sunday.

Pacquiao entered the fight coming off successive defeats, having spent a year out of the ring and with his own trainer publicly declaring he should retire unless he convincingly beat Rios.

In addition, Pacquiao carried the burden of being the favorite son of the Philippines and the man the nation looked to as a source of joy and hope in the wake of deadly Typhoon Haiyan.

Thousands of fans watched the fight on screens set up in the plaza of Tacloban, the Philippine city hit worst by the Nov. 9 disaster that killed more than 5,000 people and left huge numbers of the population homeless.

If Pacquiao felt pressure, he didn't show it in the ring at The Venetian casino in Macau, putting on a vintage display of his trademark combinations to wear down a gallant Rios and take a unanimous decision, claiming the WBO international welterweight title.

The judges scored it 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110. The Associated Press scored it 119-109.

DETROIT (AP) — Less than two years after boldly signing Prince Fielder to a $214 million contract, the Detroit Tigers traded the slugging first baseman to Texas in another blockbuster move.

Fielder was dealt to the Rangers on Wednesday night for second baseman Ian Kinsler. The Tigers agreed to pay the Rangers $30 million as part of the swap, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the amount of money exchanged was not revealed when the teams announced the trade. The $30 million is payable from 2016-20.

"Obviously, a very exciting trade for us in adding Prince Fielder to the organization," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "Also a tough trade to make in that Ian Kinsler's been with the organization since he was drafted in '03, and we've signed him here a couple of times. Been here, a catalyst for our World Series clubs, and a huge part of this. A winning guy, a heart-and-soul guy, and Detroit got a tremendous player and person."

It's the first headline-grabbing move of baseball's offseason, and it involves two of the American League's top teams. Detroit has won three consecutive AL Central titles and reached the World Series in 2012, while Texas won the AL pennant in 2010 and 2011.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — As "Sweet Caroline" pumped through the stadium and playoff-starved Panthers fans dressed all in black celebrated a big victory, Tom Brady ran after an official in search of an explanation.
Thrilling game, bizarre ending.
Brady and the Patriots were miffed after a penalty flag that was thrown in the end zone on the final play was suddenly picked up and waved off Monday night, giving the Carolina Panthers a 24-20 victory over New England for their sixth straight win.
Cam Newton led the Panthers 83 yards on 13 plays and threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr. with 59 seconds left to give the Panthers the lead.
The Patriots had a chance at an improbable comeback when Brady moved New England to the Carolina 18 with 3 seconds left and fired into the end zone as time expired. Rookie safety Robert Lester intercepted the pass, but an official at the back of the end zone threw a flag for pass interference on linebacker Luke Kuechly, who had both arms wrapped around tight end Rob Gronkowski.
The officials then gathered, however, and referee Clete Blakeman announced there was no foul on the play and the game was over.

The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Nov. 16, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:

The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Nov. 9, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A 23-year-old poker pro from Michigan won the World Series of Poker main event late Tuesday, claiming the $8.4 million title after pushing past his last opponent in a brief, dramatic match.
Ryan Riess started out behind on Tuesday, but used cleverly varied play to seize and maintain a lead amid the unpredictability of no-limit Texas Hold ’em.
On the last hand, 29-year-old Las Vegas club promoter Jay Farber went all-in with a Queen-Five. Riess, dealt an Ace-King, rightly suspected his opponent wasn’t holding much and called instantly.
Riess backed into the stands to watch the cards turn, and won the championship with the arms of his girlfriend around his shoulders.
Moments later, he kissed the diamond-encrusted championship bracelet he’s been chasing since he was 14 years old. After tearfully thanking his friends and family, he told reporters, “I just think I’m the best player in the world.”
Riess came out sparring as the night began at the 1,600-seat theater at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino off the Las Vegas Strip.
Farber started 19 million chips ahead, but Riess soon brought the score virtually even.
The tide turned definitively about two hours in, when Riess took a 58.5 million chip pot with pocket Jacks.

A lot of people were shocked when Marcus Smart announced he would return to Oklahoma State for his sophomore season. Nobody should be surprised the Cowboys point guard was a unanimous selection to The Associated Press’ preseason All-America team.
Smart was on every ballot from the 65-member national media panel Monday, a no-brainer since he was expected to be among the first players chosen if he had declared for the NBA draft.
After averaging 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.0 steals last season, it was how the Cowboys fared in the NCAA tournament that had a lot to do with his coming back.
“I felt like we had a lot more to accomplish,” Smart said of the loss to Oregon in Oklahoma State’s opening game of the tournament. “We were a lot better team than that. That’s just not the way we wanted to go out.”
It helped me a little bit to get motivated to come back this year.”
Smart was joined on the preseason All-America team by seniors Doug McDermott of Creighton and Russ Smith of Louisville, sophomore Mitch McGary of Michigan and freshman Andrew Wiggins of Kansas.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — For the better part of two decades now, the Green Bay Packers backup quarterback has been little more than an afterthought.
No more.
With Aaron Rodgers knocked out of the game — and perhaps longer — by a shoulder injury on the first series, Josh McCown and the Chicago Bears reminded the Packers why good insurance is so important. McCown, playing in place of the injured Jay Cutler, threw for two touchdowns Monday night and led Chicago to a 27-20 victory that ended a six-game skid to its NFC North rivals.
“We expected to win this game, even with the situation that happened,” Jordy Nelson said. “We had an opportunity to win the game, and we just didn’t make enough plays.”
The loss snapped Green Bay’s four-game winning streak, but the far larger concern is the health of Rodgers, who hurt his left shoulder when he was sacked on the first series by Shea McClellin.
Rodgers took a few warm-up throws with backup Seneca Wallace but, after being examined by medical staff, ran into the Green Bay locker room. He wasn’t seen again until midway through the third quarter, when he came back onto the field in sweats.